This year MCPS Summer School will be invitation only.
“The school system is shifting back to its pre-pandemic structure that targets students that would benefit most from a summer program,” according to MCPS spokesperson, Jessica Baxter.
Registration for summer school opened May 15, but not all students were able to register. MCPS says this shift focuses on the students most impacted. Jessica Baxter, the school system’s spokesperson, noted emergency funds the district received to address pandemic-related learning loss, is winding down.
MCPS parent Jennifer Reesman says she’s concerned about the district’s use of this funding. “Why was more of the ESSER funding not used to set up a world class and full day summer program with activity and education?” wrote Reesman. “It is disappointing to see the start of another summer with staffing shortages impacting children with disabilities, and children that could benefit from summer school not finding out until it is too late to move schedules and family logistics to participate.”
The funds supporting last year’s summer school model, where any student could register, were provided through nearly $400 million of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER). But even last year, many parents had problems getting their children a summer education. Just days before the program started, nearly 200 special education families were told their ESY or Extended School Year program shifted to virtual, due to staffing shortages. This year’s invitation-only summer school program also includes special education students.
According to Baxter, 8,100 students in first through eighth grade were invited to attend this year’s summer school program. High school students were invited to attend depending on their graduation requirements. Some high school students will be referred to the regional high school program for courses. The criteria used to determine what students are eligible includes state assessments, math and English report cards, and participation in literacy or math interventions. At the elementary level, student selection is also based on scoring on a test called the DIBELS assessment, a basic literacy test.
MCPS wrote to MyMCM, “a few things to keep in mind”:
- We have the Extended School Year program that is exclusively for students receiving special education services. We also have Title 1 for grades K-5.
- For our Local Summer School program, K-12, which also includes emergent multilingual learners and students receiving special education services is still open for enrollment.
- Central (virtual) high school numbers are provided below.
- It’s important to keep in mind that local high school enrollment will be uploaded on June 1st, due to the registration process, so the number below is not representative of the number of students who will be attending summer school.”
As of May 15, 4,833 students are registered for ESY this summer, but the school district needs 119 more teachers to fill the 660 positions. Reesman also pointed out it doesn’t appear that every school is following the same “invitation-only” structure. MyMCM reached out to MCPS for more clarity and were told changes to eligibility are at a district-wide level.
“Schools were asked to invite students based on data,” wrote Braxton. “If families turn down the invitation, the school moves to the next group of students. Some schools are well enrolled, and others are not. With registration closing soon, some schools are opening up to fill their slots.”
Registration for summer school programming ends Tuesday, May 30.
